The Mission

Pre-College Architecture is an intensive and immersive summer program at Carnegie Mellon University that engages high school students in the creative energy and speculative culture of the college-level experience in studying the discipline of architecture. Pre-College Architecture introduces design practice, creative problem solving, and critical thinking to young designers through a complex matrix of programming, pushing curiosity and providing a strong basis for architectural education. The Pre-College Architecture program is a powerful tool serving to build skills and prepare participants to be future undergraduate students.

The Experience

Students experience the dynamic of learning through making in a studio environment, supported by structured integrated coursework in digital media, drawing, seminars, and workshops expanding their exploration of the theory, process, and methodology of contemporary design practice. Principles of architecture are introduced through full-scale installation projects. Intensive spatial development is explored through advanced work in digital and analog media, with workshops allowing experimentation with robotic and digital fabrication technologies.